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A visitor from Holland was chatting with his American friend and was jokingly explaining about the red, white and blue in the Netherlands flag.

“Our flag symbolizes our taxes,” the man said. “We get red when we talk about them, white when we get our tax bill, and blue after we pay them.”

“That’s the same with us,” the American said, “only we see stars, too!” *

How do we best celebrate those who have died to keep our country free?

As I (Dawn) have struggled with some of the news reports I’ve seen in our country of late, I’ve asked God to help me focus this Memorial Day with deeper patriotism ~ deeper love for the country America was meant to be.

First, I will start my day with prayer. I want to remember those who gave their lives for America. I will thank God for their courage. Thomas Campbell wrote, “The patriot’s blood is the seed of Freedom’s tree.” I know we are blessed because men and women did not count their lives as dear as the nation they loved. I will pray for their families who feel the pain of loss. And I will pray that we will live with integrity, even as our heroes died with bravery for the values of our Constitution and Declaration of Independence. I will thank God for our freedom to worship Him in this great nation. I don’t take that lightly.

Then, I will sing. I’ll sing a stanza or two of America’s great anthems: The Star Spangled Banner; My Country, ’tis of Thee (America); and God Bless America. I’ll sing a newer song, too ~ Lee Greenwood’s stirring God Bless the USA:“And I’m proud to be an American, Where at Least I know I’m free. And I won’t forget the men who died, Who gave that right to me.”

I will fly my flag with pride. Francis Marion Crawford wrote, “They fell, but o’er their glorious grave Floats free the banner of the cause they died to save.” The banner of our country is our flag ~ our wonderful red-white-and-blue. I don’t think I’m alone, when viewing a grouping of the world’s flags, that the Star Spangled Banner always catches my attention, and sometimes brings a tear to my eye. I love my flag, and all it represents.

I will shake the hand of our present heroes. Robert G. Ingersoll said, “I have one sentiment for soldiers living and dead: cheers for the living; tears for the dead.” Memorial Day helps us weep for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice; but we must never forget to encourage the living who wear uniforms of military service, and praise our veterans for faithful service. [My father and father-in-love both served in the Navy. Who do you know who served or is serving?]

I will try to teach this generation the glories of our nation. “The story of America’s quest for freedom is inscribed on her history in the blood of her patriots,” Randy Vader said. This generation must know that history. How will they know if we don’t teach the stories … if we don’t tell them?